Cuba has strongly rejected the latest round of US sanctions targeting five Cuban state-owned companies and a relative of former leader Raul Castro. The Cuban government accused the United States of attempting to deepen economic pressure on the island amid ongoing hostilities.
The sanctions, announced by the US State Department, focus on several key sectors of Cuba’s economy, including entities associated with Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), a military-run conglomerate described by Washington as the economic cornerstone of the Cuban government. Officials in Havana condemned the action as an unjust measure aimed at punishing the Cuban people and destabilizing the country’s economy.
According to the US Department of State, the measures target three corporate bodies linked to GAESA, as well as two others operating in banking and logistics. These entities were identified as critical for transferring financial resources and supporting government operations on the island. The sanctions also extend to a family member of Raul Castro, illustrating Washington’s intent to apply maximum economic pressure.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio framed the sanctions as part of a broader campaign to disrupt financial flows that sustain what Washington describes as Cuba’s repressive regime and malign activities across the Western Hemisphere. This step follows previous sanctions expansions aimed at curbing Cuba’s economic capabilities.
In response, Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez denounced the sanctions on social media as a calculated effort by the US to tighten the economic blockade. He highlighted Cuba’s resilience in facing external aggression and framed the sanctions as a "crime" that targets the country’s social and economic fabric.
The reaffirmed pressure on GAESA and other state-run entities marks a continuation of US policy designed to isolate and economically weaken Cuba’s government apparatus. Experts note that GAESA has significant control over major sectors of Cuba’s economy, including tourism, retail, and finance, making these sanctions particularly impactful.